Electrical counting apparatus.



No. 768,667. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. J. A. KRAY.

ELECTRICAL COUNTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 31,1902.

N0 MODEL. 7 a SHEET No. 768,667. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

J. A. KRAY.

' ELECTRICAL COUNTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 31, 1902. no MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. KRAY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIELM. ROTHENBERGER, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL COUNTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 768,667, dated August30, 1904.

Application filed ece ber 31, 1902. Serial No- 13'7.290. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. KRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Counting Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has relation to an apparatus whereby coins, packages, orseparate articles of varying descriptions may be automatically andelectrically counted; and in such connection it relates to theconstruction and arrangement of such an apparatus.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and compactapparatus operated electrically, whereby coin, packages, and the likemay be automatically counted and registered; and to this end myinvention, stated in general terms, consists of an electric counting andregistering apparatus constructed and arranged substantially ashereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of an electrical counting apparatus embodying main features of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3is a top or plan view. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view. Fig. 5 is adetail view of the device for breaking the circuit during the resettingof the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line6 6 of Fig. I, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus and ofthe electric circuit in which said apparatus is included.

Referring to the drawings, (t represents the framework or casing of theapparatus. In the front end of this casing 60 is arranged a shaft 6, onwhich are loosely mounted a series of wheels (Z, each having on itsperiphery the numerals O to 9. Each wheel (Z has on one of its faces aratchet disk or plate (Z', by means of which, as hereinafter explained,each wheel may be turned with a step-by-step movement on the 'shaft Z)to expose at a predetermined opening in the casing (6 one of thenumerals on the number-periphery. Each ratchet-disk (Z is normallylocked against movement in one direction on the shaft 7) by aspring-acting pawl (Z engaging a slot 6 arranged longitudinally in saidshaft 6. The function of the slot 6 and of the pawls (Z will behereinafter more fully set forth.

Movement to each ratchet (Z, and consequently to a wheel (Z, is obtainedby the following preferred mechanism: On the ratchetperiphery is formeda series of square teeth cl", separated by the triangular teeth (Z,extending from the center of the disk a less distance than the top ofthe teeth (Z Arranged adjacent to and adapted to abut against a tooth (Zof the disk (Z is an arm f, suspended by a pivotal joint f from one endof a bellcrank lever J. This lever is pivoted upon a shaft f extendingacross the casing a and supported thereby. The other end of the lever fis formed into an armature f. A springf connects the arm f intermediateof its ends to the bell-crank lever f at a point near the shaft f. Itfollows from this description that when the armature end f of the leverf is depressed the arm f pushes forward and abuts against a tooth d toadvance the ratchet (Z one step.

The spring f" permits the armf to swing as it moves forward and alsoserves to return the arm f and the bell-crank lever f to their normalposition when the armature is free. This latter function of the spring fis secured by limiting the upward range of movement of the arm f uponits pivotal connection with the bell-crank lever This limitation isaccomplished by a downwardly-projecting tailpiece g, forming part of abell-crank lever 9. This tailpiece g abuts against the arm f and restsalongside a lug f formed on said arm. The lever g is, in fact, a detent,and its horizontal arm is provided with a tooth g normally resting uponthe inclined surfaces of the teeth (Z of the ratchet (Z'. The

tooth of the detent g is held downward upon the ratchet (Z by means ofthe spring g and may be raised above the square teeth (Z of said ratchetwhen the lug f is pressed inward by the movement of the arm f againstthe tailpiece g. The detent g and tailpiece g swing upon a pivotalsupport 9*. The detent g is normally supported upon a rod or shaft a,having a flat upper surface a, and the spring is preferably inserted ina groove formed in the under surface of a bar extending across thecasing immediately above the rod or shaft u. The detent g thereforeserves as a limitation or stop for the upward movement of the arm f inresponse to the spring f the rotation of the disk (Z more than therequired distance in response to the shifting of the arm f forward. Aflat or leaf spring 9 serves as a stop or pawl to prevent the backwardor retrograde movement of the ratchetdisk (Z'. In the drawings theapparatus is illustrated as provided with a series of five number-wheels(Z, operated, respectively, by a ratchet (Z, and separate mechanisms foradvancin g each ratchet (Z with the required stepby-step movement. Thereare therefore five armatures f each controlling through an arm f anddetent g the operation of a single wheel (Z.

The wheels, as will be readily understood, indicate in series therespective units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands ofthe number of articles, &c., to be counted. Each armature f is directlycontrolled by an electromagnet m, m, m m or 971*. The first magnet, m,of the series is operated or energized directly by the passage of asingle package or coin A through the receptacle of the apparatus, asillustrated in Fig. 7 The second magnet is arranged to be energized, ashereinafter fully described, when the unitswheel (Z is turning from 9 toO, and in i the same manner the third, fourth, and fifth magnets areenergized when the wheel controlled by the preceding magnet m, m or m ispassing from 9 to 0. To secure this operation of the magnets m, m, m andm the following electrical connections are made: One terminal of abattery or other circuit B terminates at the binding-post a in a bus barp,and the first magnet, m, is connected by the wire a with the bus-barand by the wire a with a binding-post 02 connected with the otherterminal of the battery or other circuit B. In the circuit formedthrough the first magnet, m, is interposed a suitable cireuit making andbreaking device D, controlled by the passage of the articleA to becounted. As each article passes through the receptacle E of theapparatus it completes the circuit and momentarily energizes the firstmagnet, m, which attracts its armature ft The first or units wheel (Z isthen operated by this armature f and intermediate mechanism, previouslyexplained. The first or units wheel continues to revolve with astep-by-step movement until the figure 9 is indicated.

It also serves as a stop to prevent On the periphery of the first wheel(Z and of succeeding wheels is formed a projection or contact-piece r.The wheels (Z are brought into electric connection with a battery B orother source of current preferably as illustrated in the drawings, asfollows: Upon one end of the shaft Z is secured a wheel or block Z ofinsulating material, and from the shaftZ projects radially a contact-pinZ traversing the wheel or block Z and projecting some distancetherefrom. Suitably insulated from the casing (Z, but supported thereon,is a forked contact-piece Z projecting from a bindingpost 6*. The postZ) is connected directly to one pole of the battery B or othercurrentgenerator. The bus-bar p is also connected with the other pole ofthis battery or generator B. Across the casing above the wheels (Zextends a bridge piece or bar 8, and suitably insulated from this pieceor bar 5-, but traversing the same, is a series of bindingposts t, t, 25and t The post Z projects downward over the first or units wheel (Z andcarries a finger arranged in the path of the contact-piece 1 on saidwheel. As the first wheel (Z turns from 9 to 0 the contactpiece 0* movesinto contact with the finger 25 The first bindingpost, t, is connectedby the wire 25* with the second magnet, on, and the return from thismagnet m is through the bus-bar As the wheel (Z turns and itscontact-piece r engages the finger Z a circuit is formed, which may betraced as follows: from the source of current through the bindingpost5*, forked pieceZ and pin Z through the shaft Z and first wheel (Z andto the first post, t. Thence it passes by wire t to and through thesecond magnet, on, which is energized. The current then passes from themagnet on through the bus-bar p to the source of current. It follows,therefore, that the, travel of the first wheel (Z from 9 to Omomentarily energizes the second magnet, m, and causes the depression ofthe armature of said second magnet. As previously explained, thedepression of an armature causes, through intermediate mechanism, thestep-by-step movement of a ratchet (Z and wheel (Z. Hence whenever thesecond magnet, m, is energized the second or tens wheel will be operatedone point. The second wheel (Z in like manner, through its projection 9'and a finger Z extending from the second binding-post, 25, will when thewheel moves from 9 to 0 cause the third magnet, m to be energized andthe third wheel (Z to be operated and a similar control of the fourthwheel (Z by the third wheel (Z, and so on through the series of wheelscanbe obtained.

In beginning the counting operation it is desirable that all the wheelsbe set to O and that when a new counting operation is to be begun thewheels (Z should be reset to 0. To permit of this setting or resetting,the shaftZ, on which the wheels turn during their step-by-step movement,is provided with thelongitudinal slot Z in which the spring-acting pawls(Z (of the respective disks (Z) engage. The slot Z is so constructed asto permit during the step-by-step movement of the disks (Z the slidingof the pawls (Z out of the slot and over the remainder of the shaft, butprevents a retrograde movement of said disks and pawls when the pawls (Zare in engage ment with said slot Z If the shaft Z be turned in the samedirection as that in which the disks (Z turn in their step-by-stepmovement, it will turn independently of each disk (Z until the pawl (Zof that disk enters the slot Z of the shaft, after which the shaft andthe disk are locked together and travel in unison. WVhen, therefore, thewheels (Z are set in varying positions and the shaft Zis turned, theshaft will turn independently of each disk until the pawl of that diskenters the slot Z hen all the pawls (Z enter the slot, the shaft andwheels turn in unison and all the wheels (Z travel with their numeralsin alinement, since the pawls (Z of the several disks have the sameposition with regard to the number-periphery of the wheels. In thussetting or resetting the wheels (Z it is advisable to break theconnection between the shaft Z and the terminal or binding post Z;otherwise as the wheels are turned a series of energizations of themagnets 11)., m and 122/" might interfere with the free movement of thedisks d. To permit of this breaking of the circuit preliminarily to theturning of the shaft Z, the insulated block or wheel Z and the pin Z areturned on the shaft to disengage the pin Z from the forked contact-pieceZ. The shaft Zmay now be turned, carrying with it the wheels (Z ascollected, and the block Z and pin Z until the pin Z again enters theforked contact-piece Z when the apparatus is ready for a new countingoperation. To lock the shaft Z in proper position, so that the wheels (Zmay expose O at the predetermined openings of the casing, the shaft Z atthat end opposite to the one to which the block Z is secured is providedwith a collar Z, having a notch Z in its periphery. A detent Zactingunder the tension of a spring Z, is arranged to ride upon theperiphery of the collar Z until the detent enters the notch Z when theshaft and collar are locked against further turning. To release thedetent from the collar Z and to permit the shaft Z to be turned, thereis provided upon the shaft adjacent to the detent Z a button Z carryinga projection Z normally clearing the detent. The button Z is arranged tobe pushed inward on the shaft Z against the tension of a crown-spring Zto bring the projection Z in alinement with the detent Z. A movement ofthe button upon the shaft will now cause the projection Z to lift thedetent,and thereby release the detent from the collar Z The movement ofthe button Z independently of the shaft maybe secured by annularlyslotting or grooving the shaft, as at Z, and engaging this slot by a pinor screw Z projecting inwardly from the button Z. The button Z can thenturn the length of the slot free of the shaft Z. The slot Z should bewide enough to permit of the slight in-andout sliding of the button Z onthe shaft Z. The detent Z is keyed to the shaft u, having the flat facea, which shaft it supports, as hereinabove eXplainecLall the detents gwhich engage the periphery of each ratchet-disk (Z. Consequently whenthe detent Z is lifted out of the notch Z of the collar Z it oscillatesthe shaft a sufiiciently to lift all of the ratchetdetents g out ofengagement with the periphery of each ratchet, and hence permits theratchets to be turned.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electrical counting apparatus, a counting-wheel having upon theperiphery a series of numerals, mechanism adapted to rotate the wheelwith a step-by-step movement, consisting of a ratchet-disk secured tosaid wheel, an arm arranged to engage a tooth of said disk, a detentarranged to bear on said disk and provided with a device adapted to forma stop for one movement of said arm, an armature for controlling saidmechanism provided with a bell-crank lever having a pivotal arm providedwith a projection adapted to normally engage the device of said detent,a spring connected with said arm and. bellcrank lever and an electricmagnet adapted to be energized to attract said armature.

2. In a counting apparatus, a wheel having a numbered periphery, aratchet-disk secured to said wheel, an arm arranged to periodicallyengage a tooth of said disk to turn the disk and wheel with astep-by-step movement, a detent arranged normally to bear on theperiphery of the disk and having a tailpiece extending to and forming astop for the upward movement of said arm, a bell-crank lever to one endof which said arm is pivoted, a spring connecting the arm to the leverat or near the fulcrum of said lever and a lug formed upon said arm andarranged to strike the tailpiece and lift the detent when the arm isshifted by the bell-crank lever inward against the ratchetdisk.

3. In an electrical counting apparatus, an electromagnet adapted to bemomentarily energized, an armature adapted to be depressed when saidmagnet is energized, a bell-crank lever, to one end of which saidarmature is connected, an arm pivotally secured to the other end of saidlever, a ratchet-disk arranged to'be rotated with a step-by-stepmovement by said arm, a detent arranged to engage said disk, and atailpiece formed on said detent and resting against said arm, saidtailpiece adapted to be swung inward to release the dearranged tooperate said mechanisms, a plurality of electromagnets arranged tocontrol said armatures and a bell-crank lever connected with eacharmature and carrying an arm having a lug.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. KRAY. Witnesses:

W. S. DOEBLER, B. O. MUssELMAN.

